March 6, 2014 | 11:55am ET

If the New York Rangers weren't able to come to terms on a deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday, the San Jose Sharks were in prime position to acquire Ryan Callahan.

Callahan, 28, did not agree to a contract extension with the Rangers, forcing the team to move him prior to yesterday's 3pm ET trade deadline.

Callahan was ultimately shipped to the Lightning, along with draft picks, for star Martin St. Louis, but TSN's Pierre LeBrun was the first to report that the Sharks were very much in on the now-former Rangers captain.

"They had gone fairly down the road with the New York Rangers, in terms of a Ryan Callahan deal," LeBrun said. "But that was Plan B for the Rangers."

Sharks GM Doug Wilson had also expressed interest in Thomas Vanek, whom the New York Islanders shipped to Montreal, and Calgary Flames sniper Mike Cammalleri, who wasn't traded.

The Sharks ended up standing pat on Deadline Day, despite attempts to acquire a top-six forward.